Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Lens Holster

This is for a photographer I know, Derek Jenkins. You wear it on your right shoulder, and it sits under your left, so you can get into it with your right hand. Just like a gun holster. Yep.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Clarence

Here's a pretty simple fifteen inch bag. I dislike using Velcro for the flap closure...but I'll do it if you're over sixty-five...or under five. But probably not even then.
Yeah.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Leif Labs + VROOM VROOM

Sweet 15-inch custom bag. Buttons by my friend Linds, who pedals her wares under the name VROOM VROOM. To see more super cute things from her, visit her Etsy site at lulabelle.etsy.com. Yeah!




Saturday, March 7, 2009

Sweet Jesus!

It only took me a whole month to set up my 146B zigzag sewing machine.

Half that time was spent trying to get a two-inch pulley for my hot new DC servo motor--Reliable's Sewquiet 4000. I was a dumbass and didn't read the online instructions beforehand and didn't realize I needed the 50mm pulley instead of the 90mm (it doesn't come with). According to the instructions, only two machines absolutely require the 50: blindstitch machines and walkingfoot zigzag machines, which is what the 146B is. Though I imagine most upholstery machines will benefit from the smaller pulley in the power and control departments.
After I realized this, I ordered one off eBay...but got the wrong type. Though, I didn't realize this till a week after I got it (I was working on something else). The dickheads who sold it to me used a picture from the Reliable Web site. Grr... (The Sewquiet's shaft is a bit smaller than other motors, I think. So if you want a 2" pulley for a 3/4" shaft, let me know.) And the only place that sells the pulley online (that I could find) is the Reliable Web site (www.reliablecorporation.com), and they're in Canada. So shipping for a seven dollar pulley is sixteen bucks. Yikes. So it goes.
Sewquiet. And it is. I haven't sewn a whole lot on it yet, but I think it's quieter than my million dollar Sailrite motor. Sweet. Though it weighs an effing ton. Installing one of these by yourself and without turning your table over isn't a whole lot of fun. Ha.
Sticking an industrial sewing machine on a regular table is pretty dumb. But I'm giving it a try. I built this table for my Sailrite Ultrafeed, which is not an industrial machine. Standard sewing tables are too small for bagmaking...though anything bigger wouldn't fit through your front door or in a UPS truck. I think buying a new sewing table and sawing my old table in half to abut that table probably would've been eight times faster than what I did...but whatever.

Pannier!

Well, I finally made a saddle bag. Woo woo! I based the size off an old Cannondale set I have. It has a 9x6 base and it's 13 inches high, folded. Unfurled it's 21 inches high. I'm pretty happy with it. I was going for super simple...and that's what it is. 1000d Cordura shell with Top Gun liner.


Boop.
I put compression straps on the sides so I can fold it up like a lunch bag. This is probably unnecessary...but it might prove to be a useful feature when carrying really long things. We'll see.I got my hooks from Jandd (www.jandd.com) for like two bucks apiece. Not bad. Most pannier makers also sell their hardware too (which is awesome). See also Ortlieb (www.ortliebusa.com), Arkel (www.arkel-od.com), and Axiom (www.axiomgear.com) for some other hooks. Pretty simple setup. I probably need to bolt the bottom strap to the frame 'cause it's a little loose otherwise. I have a metal loop on the end of the bungee cord there. (You can't see it 'cause it's behind that strap.) I found it in my junk drawer. I think it was attached to something that came out of a cereal box.
Side view!

I used Masonite pegboard for the frame. It's pretty tough and not too heavy, and most importantly, easy to get. I've been looking for some super-strong corrugated plastic, but haven't had any luck. Hmm.
And I covered the bolt ends with some Velcro so they won't scratch my precious goods.
And, yes, that's a floating liner in there...sans the bolt holes. They shouldn't leak too bad, I hope.